Note scaffolding

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Some Students don't take notes simply because they don't care. But many simply don't know how. The following strategies help students to organize their notes. They are ordered from the most heavily scaffolded to more open ended (more or less).

  • Fill-in notes - Typed notes to follow lecture. Include varying amounts of spaces for students to fill in during lecture. Lots of flexibility in terms of letting kids do some before/after lecture, the amount they are responsible for adding and working in partners in partners etc.

  • Flow Maps - Motor Flow Chart.pdf Boxes and arrows in a vertical column to show order of events and connections. Left column is the big ideas in boxes, right column is the supporting details which help connect the major events.

  • "Column Notes"- Two columns on a regular notebook page. The left 1/3 is cue words, and on the right are descriptions and definitions. The bottom is a summary and questions. Click on the link for the word document.

  • Combination notes - Students are asked to fold their paper in half the long way or hot dog way. On one side of the paper students write down a key words or key terms. On the other side students add a drawing or visual aid of some kind.

  • Concept Maps - find example here
Or check out one of Demetri Martin's "concept maps" here
important_things_-_Google_Video-1.jpg

  • Double Bubble - Motor V. Generator Double Bubble.pdf This is kind of like a hybrid of a Cmap and a ven diagram - it is not as open ended as a Cmap, and more open ended then a ven diagram. Good for constructing on the board with the students.

  • Pyramid Maps



  • Word Wall - Keep a wall of key terms somewhere in the classroom. This will help students realize what is most important in a unit. Try adding words in more than one language for ESL students (and the benefit of the entire class).

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